THE whole country celebrated after Bill and Peggy Dovey were married, just three days before Victory in Europe was declared.

And the nation will be commemorating VE Day as the couple celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary at the Marlbre Hotel, Kempsey, on Saturday.

Both Worcester born and bred, they married at St George's Church, Barbourne, on May 5, 1945, while Bill was on 72 hours' leave from the Worcestershire Regiment.

"We had a white wedding with all the trimmings, but everything was borrowed," said Mrs Dovey, now aged 80.

"Bill's leave was extended to a week because of VE Day and everyone was celebrating. It all worked out very well."

The couple had met in 1943, when Peggy was helping to make aircraft parts at Eltex in Bromyard Road, where Bill was in a reserved occupation as a skilled sheet metal worker.

Their love affair may have started with stars in their eyes, when Bill invited her to a fairground ride on a 'moon rocket', but the courtship was interrupted when he was called up for service in Germany.

After the wedding, he was sent to Italy and was not demobbed until 1948, when he returned to work at Eltex.

They made their home in Prestwich Avenue, Red Hill, before moving to Chapel Road, Kempsey, 27 years ago.

Mrs Dovey worked at Russell and Dorrell's department store for many years and Mr Dovey, now aged 84, moved to Metal Box and then Metamatic in Bilford Road, where he remained until he retired.

They have a son, Robert, three grandchildren and many happy memories to share.

The secret of their long and happy marriage, they agreed, was that they had always done everything together.